Changes

Razib Khan points out in ''Discover Magazine'', "most [[secular]] nations in the world are those of East Asia, in particular what are often termed “[[Confucianism|Confucian]] societies.” It is likely therefore that the majority of the world’s atheists are actually East Asian."<ref>[http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/most-atheists-are-not-white/ Most atheists are not white & other non-fairy tales], Discover magazine</ref> See: [[Asian atheism]]

Razib Khan points out in ''Discover Magazine'', "most [[secular]] nations in the world are those of East Asia, in particular what are often termed “[[Confucianism|Confucian]] societies.” It is likely therefore that the majority of the world’s atheists are actually East Asian."<ref>[http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/most-atheists-are-not-white/ Most atheists are not white & other non-fairy tales], Discover magazine</ref> See: [[Asian atheism]]

According to the ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'', 2% of the world's population self-identifies as atheist and the average annual global change for atheism from 2000 to 2010 was −0.17%.<ref name="eb-2010">{{cite web|title=Religion: Year in Review 2010: Worldwide Adherents of All Religions|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1731588/Religion-Year-In-Review-2010/298437/Worldwide-Adherents-of-All-Religions|work=Encyclopædia Britannica Online|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica Inc.|accessdate=2013-11-21}}</ref> See: [[Global atheism statistics]]

According to the ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'', 2% of the world's population self-identifies as atheist and the average annual global change for atheism from 2000 to 2010 was −0.17%.<ref name="eb-2010">{{cite web|title=Religion: Year in Review 2010: Worldwide Adherents of All Religions|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1731588/Religion-Year-In-Review-2010/298437/Worldwide-Adherents-of-All-Religions|work=Encyclopædia Britannica Online|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica Inc.|accessdate=2013-11-21}}</ref> See: [[Global atheism statistics]]

In respect to the atheist population of the world, there have been many studies in regards to the atheist demographics and in regards to the percentage of atheists in various geographic areas.  Concerning the atheist population as a percentage of various countries' populations, specific research on atheists conducted in 2006 [http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=1131 suggests] that the true proportion of atheists is 4% in the United States, 17% in Great Britain and 32% in France.  However, how one defines atheist can skew the results of polls (see: [[Definition of atheism]]). For example, in 2008, the American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) reported 1.6% of Americans self-identified themselves as atheists.<ref>http://b27.cc.trincoll.edu/weblogs/AmericanReligionSurvey-ARIS/reports/ARIS_Report_2008.pdf</ref>  In 2007, Pew Forum estimated that 1.6% of Americans are atheists.<ref>[http://religions.pewforum.org/reports Pew Forum - 2007 - Key findings on religious belief in America]</ref>

In respect to the atheist population of the world, there have been many studies in regards to the atheist demographics and in regards to the percentage of atheists in various geographic areas.  Concerning the atheist population as a percentage of various countries' populations, specific research on atheists conducted in 2006 [http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=1131 suggests] that the true proportion of atheists is 4% in the United States, 17% in Great Britain and 32% in France.  However, how one defines atheist can skew the results of polls (see: [[Definition of atheism]]). For example, in 2008, the American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) reported 1.6% of Americans self-identified themselves as atheists.<ref>http://b27.cc.trincoll.edu/weblogs/AmericanReligionSurvey-ARIS/reports/ARIS_Report_2008.pdf</ref>  In 2007, Pew Forum estimated that 1.6% of Americans are atheists.<ref>[http://religions.pewforum.org/reports Pew Forum - 2007 - Key findings on religious belief in America]</ref>

On July 24, 2013, ''CNS News'' reported:

On July 24, 2013, ''CNS News'' reported:

{{cquote|Atheism is [[Decline of atheism|in decline worldwide]], with the number of atheists falling from 4.5% of the world’s population in 1970 to 2.0% in 2010 and projected to drop to 1.8% by 2020, according to a new report by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass."<ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/global-study-atheists-decline-only-18-world-population-2020 Global Study: Atheists in Decline, Only 1.8% of World Population by 2020]</ref>}}

{{cquote|Atheism is [[Decline of atheism|in decline worldwide]], with the number of atheists falling from 4.5% of the world’s population in 1970 to 2.0% in 2010 and projected to drop to 1.8% by 2020, according to a new report by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass."<ref>[https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/global-study-atheists-decline-only-18-world-population-2020 Global Study: Atheists in Decline, Only 1.8% of World Population by 2020]</ref>}}

In 2011, the ''[[American Spectator]]'' citing research published in the ''International Bulletin of Missionary Research'' reported that atheism is on the decline as a whole in terms of adherents.<ref>http://spectator.org/archives/2011/02/28/thriving-christianity</ref>   

In 2011, the ''[[American Spectator]]'' citing research published in the ''International Bulletin of Missionary Research'' reported that atheism is on the decline as a whole in terms of adherents.<ref>http://spectator.org/archives/2011/02/28/thriving-christianity</ref>   

==External links==

==External links==

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyA0kEOH0dQ Decline of global atheism] - Professor Eric Kaufmann

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyA0kEOH0dQ Decline of global atheism] - Professor Eric Kaufmann

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0H1WMeGhIQ Atheism a house divided & in global decline] - YouTube video

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0H1WMeGhIQ Atheism a house divided & in global decline] - YouTube video

*[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html The Largest Atheist/Agnostic Populations]

*[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html The Largest Atheist/Agnostic Populations]

*[http://www.agreeley.com/articles/hardcore.html The Demand for Religion: Hard Core Atheism and "Supply Side" Theory]

*[http://www.agreeley.com/articles/hardcore.html The Demand for Religion: Hard Core Atheism and "Supply Side" Theory]